In a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves through the Sikh community, Raj Singh, a talented musician known as Goldy, was fatally shot outside a gurdwara in Selma, Alabama. Hailing from Tanda Sahuwala village in Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh, India, Goldy was part of a Sikh kirtan group touring the United States for the past year and a half.

The assailants, as yet unidentified, targeted Goldy while he was standing outside the gurdwara, shooting him in the abdomen. The news of his untimely demise reached his family a day later, leaving them devastated. Five days have passed since the incident, yet the postmortem examination is still pending, adding to the anguish of Goldy’s loved ones.

Gurdeep Singh, Goldy’s brother-in-law, expressed the family’s frustration, stating that they are seeking answers and justice. They suspect the possibility of a hate crime, given the circumstances of the attack. Despite their appeals for government intervention and the cooperation of the gurdwara committee, clarity on the motive behind the murder remains elusive.

However, Selma police, represented by Sergeant Caleb Garcia, have downplayed suggestions of racial motivation in the killing. This assertion comes amidst growing concerns within the Indian community in Alabama following a spate of violent incidents targeting individuals of Indian origin.

This tragic event marks the second killing of an Indian-origin person in Alabama in February alone. The previous month witnessed the murder of Pravin Raojibhai Patel, a 76-year-old hotelier, and another incident involving the shooting of Kerala student Neil Kumar during a robbery attempt.

Goldy’s demise leaves a profound void in his family, where he was the sole provider after his father’s passing. His family’s plea to the Indian government for assistance in repatriating his body to India for cremation underscores the depth of their loss and the urgent need for closure.